Past simple — finished actions
IntroducedTalking about the past
- The past simple describes finished actions in the past.
- I watched a film yesterday. We went to Beijing last year.
- Often used with yesterday, last week, … ago, in 2019.
I lost my keys yesterday; they did not write a postcard.
Regular verbs: add -ed
- Most verbs add -ed: work → worked, play → played.
- Ending in -e: add only -d → like → liked.
- Consonant + y: change y to i, add -ed → study → studied.
- The form is the same for every subject: I worked, she worked.
What is the past simple of “study”?
Consonant + y → change y to i, then add -ed: study → studied.
Irregular verbs (learn these!)
- Many common verbs are irregular — no -ed:
- go → went, have → had, see → saw, get → got, make → made, eat → ate.
- There is no rule — you must memorise them.
Regular or irregular past?
Regular verbs add -ed; irregular verbs change in their own way and must be learned.
Write the past simple of “go”.
“go” is irregular: go → went (not “goed”).
Negatives & questions: did
- Negative: didn't + base verb → I didn't go.
- Question: Did + subject + base verb → Did you see it?
- After did / didn't, the verb returns to its base form (no -ed).
Put the words in order to make a past question.
Past questions use Did + subject + base verb: “Did you see the film?”
Translate into English: 我昨天看了一部电影。
A finished past action → past simple: “I watched a film yesterday.”
Common mistakes
- ❌ I go to Beijing last month. → ✓ I went to Beijing last month. — past time → past form.
- ❌ She buyed a phone. → ✓ She bought a phone. — irregular verbs don't take -ed.
- ❌ yesterday night → ✓ last night — but yesterday morning is fine.
Match the verb to its past simple.
All irregular — learn them in pairs: buy → bought, think → thought, take → took, come → came.
Which sentence is correct?
didn't already shows the past — the verb goes back to go.
- Past simple = a finished past action.
- Regular verbs: + -ed; irregular verbs: learn each one.
- Negatives and questions use did / didn't + the base verb.
Write one sentence about something you did yesterday. Use the past simple.
Example: “I played basketball with my friends.” (play → played)